One part of the unfolding crisis in Ukraine that in part obvious but can also escape notice is that a key driver of the current situation is the lack of any effectively functioning government in Kiev. There is a nominal head of state in place. In practice there is a power vacuum at the apex of the Ukrainian state. Its ability to react effectively to the situation in Crimea, given the huge Russia military presence already there and the pro-Russian population, would be quite limited in any case. But the fact that the state structure itself is still half-decapitated gives the Russians an even greater ability to dictate the course of events than they might otherwise have.
Unquestionably, we’ve got a dangerous and unpredictable situation unfolding in Ukraine – and a taste of the reinforcing mix of authoritarian tendencies and aggressive behavior that has persistently characterized Russia through the eras of autocracy to totalitarianism and on to the present one of pseudo-democracy. That said, we shouldn’t be blind to the downsides of the current situation for Russia.
Not making this up. McCain declares: “We are all Ukrainians.”
President Obama to appear in the White House briefing room at 4:45 ET to address the situation in Ukraine. Watch live here.
The GOP’s greatest fear in Mississippi, Sahil Kapur reports, might just be a Democrat running for Senate who’s “pro-gun, pro-life, and was endorsed by the NRA.”
Lawmaker regrets asking why men can’t rape women if the women can get abortions.
Anti-gay folks in Arizona aren’t done! They’ve got another anti-gay law they won’t to try and want a second chance.
Meet the paralyzed Arkansas state Rep. who is voting against Medicaid expansion even though he has received more than $1 million of Medicaid funded hospitalization and rehabilitation and continues to be on Medicaid. He’s says the potential new recipients don’t work hard enough and probably just want to abuse prescription drugs.